Rivera was wounded on a mission to fix a combat outpost when he drove over a pressure-plated improvised explosive device, turning his vehicle into a raging inferno.

He managed to escape within minutes, but two others, his best friend and his captain, died.

But these days, life is looking better. He has his son, and his wife, Ana, who both joined him for the muster dinner. Now, he's ready for the May fishing trip.

"It's great - the support they give us and our families," he said.

Ron Kocian, president of Warrior's Weekend, said support is what the event is all about. Kocian basked in the thought of an even stronger turnout this year.

"It's bigger, much bigger," he said. "It's going great."

On top of a large silent auction, the muster also had a live auction with more than 80 items, including a 1997 Harley Davidson. If that wasn't enough, all 140 tables, which each seat eight, were filled.

Fric has volunteered for the past five years, helping create a patriotic sand sculpture in Port O'Connor for the warriors' May arrival. The sculptures are typically made with more than 130 tons of sand and, of course, several helpers, she said.

"They've given us so much," she said, a bit teary-eyed. "It's a labor of love for us."

Though Rivera is just one of many Texas wounded soldiers, he wants the volunteers to know their hard work does not go unnoticed.

"I didn't think there were people out there that were so generous," he said. "This is a life-changing experience."